How can I unlock the Macintosh HD to reinstall OS X Lion?

Jaastad wrote:

How do I unlock my hard disk on a very old MacBook Pro?

This is a very old thread. I suggest you start a new post, and if possible provide screen shots, or a picture of what your screen looks like when you need unlock your disk.

And if you are not on Lion 10.7, then post your new question in the correct forum, so you get information related to the version of OS X you are actually using.

Making a guess, is it possible you have a Firmware Password enabled? Does the screen look like one of these?

Or is it some other lock?

Any additional information you can provide in a new post would be helpful.

The start up issue typically means ( some type of download was missed). Are you not able to Start up at all or is it intermittently. And if you do get them and can start up do you get error messesages. These are important. Do Not Ignore them. You need to look at what is causing the issue. Could be a kernel issue, where it typically means software download. Not always, but most of the time.

Have you tried to re-seat your memory. This is a great way to go. While you open up your Bottom case, disconnect, your battery and do a hard reset. And those are a lot of great tips to get you started. Deffenitly back up to Usb drive. Or Time Capsule. If you can’t you might have to go rogue on this one.

Let me know how it works out.

DV

How do I unlock my hard disk on a very old MacBook Pro?

Why can't I see what 'kappy' said?!?! Having similar issue

OS X v10.6- Gray progress bar appears under Apple logo during startup

Install or Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion from Scratch

Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.

Boot to the Recovery HD:

Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.

Erase the hard drive:

1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.

2. After DU loads select your startup volume (usually Macintosh HD) from the

left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.

3. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Optionally, click on

the Security button and set the ZeroData option to one-pass. Click on

the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.

4. Quit DU and return to the main menu.

Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion: Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Install button.

Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible

because it is three times faster than wireless.

Erasing the HDD will delete everything on it. It should unlock it. Be sure to backup your data or it will be lost.

Not if you are already in recovery mode.

i have had the same problem with my mac mini. If you go to Macworld and type in, How to split a Fusion drive they will explain how to unlock this drive. Some how when you set up a hard drive it makes it a fusion drive and if you have a ssd in there it block's it out. Try this and let me know how you do >

I tried to reinstall osx but failed. Found that there is no fee space in my disc I tried to increase the size of this partition but found that the disc is licked so tried to use disc utility and unlock the disc but it was like PC hanged up there was sign if busy PC and took toooo much time always there for I had to restart

Now the issue is

Can't down load new osx because that partition has no Space so t

Tried to increase the partition size but HD disc is locked

Tried to unlock but PC stuck

What to do now

Regards

I have MBP late 2011 13"

The issue now is the active disc that contains OS is full with no single byte free and doesn't mount or load OS to computer run and always a grey bar appears upon starting the PC that takes 20 to 30 min

I tried to increase Macintosh HD space from partition but it says you can not change the partition because the disc is locked. When tried to unlock disc from disc utility and than startup disc the PC stands still or hangs up.that means I can't unlock it.

I can not run MBP in safe mode also because the shift doesn't work when trying to open in safe mode.

I don't have Mac OS disc or any apple shop in me area.

Please help me as soon as possible

Thanks indeed

I have MBP late 2011 13"

The issue now is the active disc that contains OS is full with no single byte free and doesn't mount or load OS to computer run and always a grey bar appears upon starting the PC that takes 20 to 30 min

I tried to increase Macintosh HD space from partition but it says you can not change the partition because the disc is locked. When tried to unlock disc from disc utility and than startup disc the PC stands still or hangs up.that means I can't unlock it.

I can not run MBP in safe mode also because the shift doesn't work when trying to open in safe mode.

I don't have Mac OS disc or any apple shop in me area.

Please help me as soon as possible

Thanks indeed

I can't find recovery disc also

How do i do back up before erasing my drive. I tried restore to USB drive, and left for 6 hours, but nothing happened.

Thank You For Your Help! best response ever this worked perfect for me didn't even waste time backing up but all well at lease my issue is offically resolved after spending 4 hours on this macbook!! definably doing a youtube video for this!